Suspension switch



June l5, 1948. -N B, B|RGE SUSPENSION SWITCH F1104 June 4, 1946nlvurmmmmmmtm w// 6 4%/ if Y F 1 4 d. 2-3 9 l 5m l.. 7 l G .H.

uw n 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented June 15, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE SUSPENSION SWITCH Nathaniel Bradford Birge, Sherman, Tex.

Application June 4, 1946, Serial No. 67.4,180

` Claims'. (Cl. 200-52) This invention relates to switches, and moreparticularly to switches actuatable in response toV physical relaxationof an operator.

It is a well-known fact that many persons have the habit of reading inbed prior to going to sleep. Frequently, such person desires to use anelectrical appliance such as aradio, heater pad or electric fan, etc,while thus engaged. In any event, under such circumstances an electriclamp is almost invariably lit f-or illumination purposes. Further, it iscommon for persons who have the aforementioned habit to unwittingly dropoil to sleep before switching, oil whatever electric appliance is' inuse at the time.

Therefore, it is an object of my invention to provide a switch operableupon relaxation of a person in passing into slumber to automaticallyinterrupt current' to any or all electrical appliances in use at theparticular time.

It is a further object of my invention'to, provide a switch device ofthe character described with a simple, rugged and fool-proofconstruction.

In the attainment of .the above objects, my device comprises a body orshell which may be of metal, plastic, or other suitable material, andwhich has an internal cavity housing a normally open switch means.Current from a line is brought into the cavity and connected to theswitch means which is also connected to a conventional type of femalesocket supported in the cavity and arranged to be engaged rexternally bya conventional plug from an electric appliance. The switch meansnormally provides for an open circuit between the line and the femalesocket. However, one of the elements of the switch means is of resilientmaterial and has a chain or cord secured thereto, which cord passesoutwardly of the body through a port formed in a wall thereof, andextends a suitable distance therefrom so that its terminal point may beheld, by means of a suitable knob secured thereto, in the hand of aperson who may be assumed to be sitting up in bed.

Accordingly, the entire device hangs at the lower end of the stringwithin a few inches of the iloor. The weight of the device is such as tovcause a displacement of the resilient switch element to whichthe'string is attached and at which point of attachment the weight ofthe device may be considered concentrated. A displacement of theresilient switch element is thus effected with relation to anotherswitch element secured within the body cavity, the two switch elementseiecting a contact juncture for passing current from the line to anappliance so long as the device is suspended at the end o1' the string.Should, however, the person holding the upper end of the string fallasleep, his grip on the string is relaxed and the device falls to thefloor. At this time the `resilient switch element to which the string issecured resumes its normal open circuit position and interrupts power tothe appliance. A detailed description of my invention will now be givenin conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows Aa vertical lsection through one embodiment of myinvention;

Figure 2 is a section through 2-2 of Figure 1; and,

Figure 3 is a section through another form of my invention.

With reference to Figures 1 and 2 oflthe drawings, my device comprises abody or shell I `of substantially spherical shape and having a cavity Ia therein in which are secured switch elements 2 and 3. Switch element 2is a contact member which is -relatively stationary with respect to bodyl, being secured thereto in a block I of hard rubber or the likefastened in any suitable manner to the interior of body I. Switchelement 3 is a resilient metallic leaf secured within body I as by ahard rubber block 5 suitably fastened to the interior of the cavity.Wires 6 of an electric cable which may be assumed to connect with a plug(not shown) for engaging an electric outlet such as a wall socket or thelikejlead into the cavity la through a port 1. A conventional socketarrangement S connects to wires 6 as shown in Figure 1, and it will beunderstood that owing to the gap between elements 2 and 3 current fromthe line to the socket is normally interrupted. A ilexible chain orstring 8 is secured as by a knot 9 to element 3 and passes outwardly.through the body through a port I0, terminating in a pearshaped knobIl. Knob Il is shaped so as to t comfortably and conveniently in thehuman hand and the length ofstring 8 is such as to provide suspension ofhousing I a short distance from 'a floor when a person sitting up in bedis holding knob Il in his hand. Under =these conditions, the weight ofhousing I and the attendant parts are suspended entirely at the point ofjunction between knot 9 and switch element 3, and it will be understoodthat this switch element is provided with a. flexibility whereat suchweight will cause sulicient flexure to close contact with element 2whereby a closed circuit is provided between the line and whateverappliance may be plugged in at S. However, if the person .using theswitch should fall asleep, thereby relaxing his grip on knob ll, bodypended claims I will fall to the floor. Switch element 3 then returns toits normal unstressed condition (as shown in Figure 1) to open thecircuit to the appliance.

An adjusting knob comprising a. threaded vshank I2 and a-knurled head I3may -be provided in housing I, `so that if desired permanent contactbetween switch elements! and 3 may be obtained in an obvious manner.

With reference to Figure 3, all the elements l hereinabove described forthe form shown in Figure 1 are illustrated with primed referencecharacters, and accordingly such elements Will not be repetitiouslydescribed herein. The distinction between the form shown in Figure 1v'and that shown in Figure 3 resides in the shape of housing I which isseen to be of oval configuration and y may be provided with flat sidesasin Figure 2,

or have a shape resembling an egg or a football. The purpose of the ovalconfiguration `is to relieve the person using thev switch ofthenecessity of supporting the total weight of the device in his hand. Aswill be clearly understood from the drawing, the device maybepartiallysuspended from the hand while receiving 'some support from theiioor at points indicated'by the arrows F. It will be appreciatedthatthe long axis of the body l will then be disposed at a slant with re,spect to the floor; and it is contemplated that theweight of the massescomprising; the righthandv side of the body and the elements 4', S',

For example,rthe bodyl (or I maybe formed of suitable plastic materialand have 'integrally formed .therewith the various. elements supportingprojections 4, 5, etc. Further, a plurality of t sockets S in body .lcould be provided if'desired. .Y

Suitable fuse devices for protecting against short 'circuitor overloadcould be incorporated Awithin etc., will be such as to providesuillcient exure ranged to conduct current to the cavity, a plug-inconnection in the Wall of the body for connection with other conductorsto carry current from the cavity, electrical conductors Within thecavity arranged to bridge the electrical conductors first mentioned andthe plug-in connection and including contact members forming a normallyopen gap, one of said contact membersv being resilient, the body formedwith a port arranged in its wall opposedy to said resilient contact anda iiexible suspension cord secured to the resilient contact and passingthrough the port, said body with the enclosed switch elements being ofsuiicient weight to ilex the supporting contact member when the deviceis suspended by the cord.

4, A gravity, suspension, switch comprising a body having a cavity',electrical conductors arranged to conduct current to the cavity, aplug-in connection in the wall of the body for connection with otherconductorsv to carry current from the cavity, electrical conductorswithin the cavity arranged to bridge the electrical'conductors firstmentioned and the plug-in connection and includingv contact membersforming a normally open gap, one of said contact members beingresilient, the body formed with a port arranged in itslwall opposed tosaid resilient contact land a flexible suspension cord secured to theresilient contact and passing through thejport, with means 'carried bythe body operable from the exterior thereof for mechanically flexing thecontacts toclosed position, said body with the enclosed switch elementsbeing of sufficient weight to ex the supporting contact member When thedevice is suspended by the cord.

5.A suspension switch comprising a housing v for the switch formed witha port, switch means mounted in the housing including a fixed contactanda resilient contact, the x'ed contact positioned between theresilientv contact and the port. a suspension cord extending through theport and connected to the resilient contact intermediate'the mounting ofsaid resilient contact on the body cavity as a matter 'of design, ifdesired.

Accordingly, Izdo notwish to be limited by the specific embodiments 4 ofmy invention herein- 'above illustrated except as gsetz forth inA theap- Having thus described invention, I claim:

I "15A gravity, -su spe'n sionL- fswitch comprising a `body-having acavity,' e1ectrical conductors arranged to cond-uct A-curr'ejnt to andfrom said cavity'. electrical conductors in said cavity includingelectricalcontact members one of said contact members' being resilientand `normally biasedV to openrpositiomsaidfvbody formed' with j a portin its wallr-on thatl side of the resilient contact"toward the othercontact and-a flexible' vsuspension cordconected tothe resilient contactand' passing through said port, 's'aid 'body with the enclosed switchelements being of 'suiicient weight toex the ysupiriin'ting ,contactmember when thedevice `is suspendedby the vcord.

' 2. -'Device fof-claim 1 with means ,mounted on the, body 'for sexinganahoiding tneiresuient contact in closed contactposition.

3. A,gravitysuspens ion,'switch comprising a body having va cavity,electrical conductors arthe housing andthe portion adapted to contactthe fixed contact, said housing and associated switch mechanism being ofsuflicient weight to flex the resilient contact into circuit completingcontact with the fixed contact when the device is suspended by the cord.

NATHANIEL BRADFORD BIRGE.

REFERENCES CITED The following-references are of record in the ille ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number

